Kindred Souls (Wei Wu Xian "X" Lan Wang Ji)

In your Memories

Xiao Zhan's POV:

I can feel the cool breeze gently stroke my face and a faint familiar smell of sandalwood teases my senses. I urge my eyes to open and find myself sleeping on mat made of soft grass. I look around and I realise, I am inside a room or am I inside a cave?

A small lantern is placed just beside my mat which gives the surroundings a subtle glow and the cool air gives me the feeling that I am near a waterfall.

But where am I? More so, what happened? Ah, my head! I clutch my head as the nausea comes back with a full force.

Not wanting to delve on it more, I slowly will myself to get up and follow the faint light from the sky. The dusk has adorned the sky with hues of purple and a lone figure stands there with his one hand on his Bichen.

Lan Zhan?

Walking slowly, with each step taking a toll on my health, I am about to stumble when he's there beside me in a second. Making me lean on him, he helps me sit on a tree stump.

Trying to fuss over me and not meeting my eyes, Lan Zhan does not act this way, look at me Lan Zhan, when he doesn't, I hold his hand and cease his movements, just to pull him closer to me and that's when I notice.

His eyes are red.

My Lan Zhan has been crying.

Without any words, I pull him into my embrace and he shivers.

Lan Zhan, I am so sorry.

He slowly pulls apart and places his hand on my heart "You're weak" he says sadly.

It stings my heart. He for the very first time, spoke to me.

"You're getting weak, Wei Ying" he whispers.

"Ah, finally the great Hanguang Jun has spoken" I grin and he huffs.

Seem certain things don't change and that's when it occurs to me, I am in a very different set of clothes.

"Take me to the lake" I look at Lan Zhan. He looks perplexed but agrees. Slowly, leaning on him, he takes me to the nearby lake, and when I see my reflection, I am stumped.

Same long raven hair. Same red band. Black robes. Red eyes. I have been transformed into Wei Wuxian.

I look at Lan Zhan "What's the meaning of all this?"

He looks impassively at me but I know, I know his looks. He's as worried as I am. Or rather could be even more worried than I am.

"Are you real Lan Zhan? Am I real?"

Sitting next to me and watching the now darkening sky, he answers "I am a memory, Wei Ying. A memory of the Lan Zhan of the past and present" he sighs softly "I am a memory stuck in form of a soul connecting both of them" he pauses and then looks directly into my soul "to you" he gazes adoringly "Lan Zhan of the past lived his life in your memory, the Lan Zhan of present is fighting with his life, in your memory".

"And you?" I ask, hurting for my Lan Zhan.

"I am as alive as I can be" he smiles sadly.

"Is my Lan Zhan, really dea..." I choke, unable to finish my sentence.

"Sadly, he's within me. We're what you call stuck in a purgatory. A lifeless cycle"

"Yibo?"

"He carries us within him. He's the boon I received when I chose to search you for eternity" he smiles sadly "I am glad, I found you".